Cowboys NFL Draft Profile: UMass receiver Andy Isabella

Cole Beasley will be free to sign with any team this spring which means the Cowboys could be looking for a replacement slot receiver. UMass receiver Andy Isabella could fit the bill in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Author:
Patrick Conn

Published:
11:47 PM CST January 24, 2019

Updated:
11:47 PM CST January 24, 2019

The Dallas Cowboys could very well be without free agent-to-be Cole Beasley in 2019. With every tweet on his account about his usage in the Dallas offense, it makes you wonder if we have seen the last of his playing days in the Metroplex.

With that in mind, there are a few receivers participating in the Senior Bowl that the Cowboys could target, including UMass standout Andy Isabella. Much like Beasley, he is a smaller receiver in stature but don’t let that fool you. Isabella plays a lot bigger than he reads out on a chart.

Andy Isabella

WR, UMass

Height: 5’8”

Weight: 186

Hand Size: 8 ½”

Arm Length: 29 ¾”

2015: 8 games, 2 receptions, 7 yards, 3.5 YPR, 0 TDs

2016: 12 games, 62 receptions, 801 yards, 12.9 YPR, 7 TDs

2017: 12 games, 65 receptions, 1020 yards, 15.7 YPR, 10 TDs

2018: 12 games, 102 receptions, 1698 yards, 16.6 YPR, 13 TDs

This will be a huge week for Isabella as he competes in the Senior Bowl. It is clear that he was productive in a non-Power five school, but can he still perform when the level of competition is raised? That’s what NFL teams will aim to find out.

Against Georgia this past season, Isabella grabbed 15 receptions for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores were from more than 40 yards out but they also came when UMass was down big to the Bulldogs. In the first half he hauled in nine passes for 65 yards. While the box score leads you to believe he didn’t back down, most of his damage came when UMass fell behind in this game.

The things that allowed Beasley to have success in Dallas are similar to what you get from Isabella. He is a very good route runner that creates separation off of the line. He shows the ability to do this with precise route running and his change of direction early on in his routes. For a quarterback like Dak Prescott, players who create separation are optimal for his skill set. Isabella is the type of player who could have a similar impact to Beasley if given the opportunity.

Despite having smaller hands, Isabella catches the ball at a very high rate. He is also a guy that can test a defensive vertically. If the ball is near him, more often than not he will bring it in. Due to lack of size, his catch radius is much smaller and he will have a hard time catching in traffic if he doesn’t create a throwing window during the route.

Isabella doesn’t have another gear, but he is still quick and quite shifty. Alongside Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, he could add yet another receiver who can stretch a defense. This would help the Cowboys offensively in trying to beat defenses underneath, like how they utilized Beasly, as this is where Isabella excels, along with giving a team a third down chain-moving target.

Should the Cowboys look to take a wide receiver on day two, Andy Isabella should be on their radar. The only issue is that you would probably need to take him with the 58th pick as he is likely a top 75 player in this draft.

Do you think the Cowboys should consider a slot receiver with one of their first picks or would you rather just see them bring back Cole Beasley? Share your thoughts on Isabella with Patrick on Twitter @DraftCowboys.